6 Thermostat Tips for the Heating Season in Your St. Charles Area Home

The manner in which you use your thermostat during the heating season can have a big impact on your home's energy-consumption and comfort levels. Today we're going to share six thermostat usage tips that will help you get the most out of your furnace this winter!

6 thermostat tips for the heating season

Use a programmable thermostat. If you don't already have a programmable thermostat installed in your home, consider installing one this heating season. A programmable thermostat will allow you to store temperature settings for various times of the day and days of the week, which will make it much easier to take advantage of the rest of the thermostat tips below.

Choose an energy-efficient at-home temperature. The temperature that you choose to use for your thermostat when you're at home and awake will be higher than any other times of the day, so it will have a big impact on your heating bills. Try using 68 degrees for your at-home temperature to see how you feel. If that's too cold, raise it by one degree at a time until you find the lowest temperature that you're comfortable with.

Lower your thermostat when you're away from home. There is no reason to use the same temperature setting when you're away from home as you do for when your home is occupied. Lower your thermostat by 5 degrees during the times of day that your family is typically gone.

Lower your thermostat when you're family is sleeping. One of the great things about winter is that you can always use more or thicker blankets to keep you warm at night. This allows you tolerate colder temperatures in your home. You can take advantage of this by lowering your thermostat 5 degrees while you're sleeping. With a programmable thermostat, you can even time your temperature settings so that they are at a more comfortable level before you get out of bed in the morning!

Lower your thermostat when hosting guests. Many of us have guests over at our homes during winter, especially during the holidays. Those extra people will add body heat to your home, which will allow you to lower your thermostat without feeling a difference in comfort.

Adjust your thermostat settings during vacations. Are you planning to go on any vacations or weekend trips this winter? If your house is going to be empty for an extended period of time, be sure to lower your thermostat by 5 degrees to save energy while you're gone. Let your programmable thermostat know when you plan to be back so that your home will be nice and warm for you by the time you arrive!

If you have any questions about these thermostat tips, or if you'd like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Louis area heating and cooling contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Ballwin, Chesterfield and Clarkson Valley.